Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	$ 3,699,175	$ 3,315,051	$ 7,103,774	$ 6,478,764
Cost of sales	3,130,152	2,810,080	6,000,544	5,478,829
Gross profit	569,023	504,971	1,103,230	999,935
Selling, general and administrative expenses	440,331	400,637	854,770	788,619
Depreciation	14,985	13,319	29,516	26,310
Operating Income (Loss)	113,707	91,015	218,944	185,006
Floor plan interest expense	(10,900)	(9,845)	(21,168)	(19,368)
Other interest expense	(12,066)	(11,478)	(23,793)	(23,572)
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	8,901	8,168	11,249	12,578
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	99,642	77,860	185,232	154,644
Income taxes	(35,164)	(27,093)	(63,571)	(53,926)
Income from continuing operations	64,478	50,767	121,661	100,718
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,983)	(1,155)	(1,147)	(4,100)
Net income (loss)	62,495	49,612	120,514	96,618
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	2,981	(10,896)	(34,138)	(195)
Comprehensive Income	65,476	38,716	86,376	96,423
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to the non-controlling interests	453	520	1,342	708
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	65,023	38,196	85,034	95,715
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(106,504)	(84,665)	(204,038)	(172,219)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(106,504)	(84,665)	(204,038)	(172,219)
Income taxes	37,757	29,659	70,461	60,331
Income from continuing operations	(68,747)	(55,006)	(133,577)	(111,888)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,983	1,155	808	4,100
Net income (loss)	(66,764)	(53,851)	(132,769)	(107,788)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	(2,676)	11,430	36,313	1,738
Comprehensive Income	(69,440)	(42,421)	(96,456)	(106,050)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to the non-controlling interests			(534)
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	(69,440)	(42,421)	(95,922)	(106,050)
Penske Automotive Group
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Selling, general and administrative expenses	4,695	4,740	9,853	9,335
Depreciation	411	246	789	608
Operating Income (Loss)	(5,106)	(4,986)	(10,642)	(9,943)
Floor plan interest expense	(2,459)	(2,254)	(4,746)	(4,452)
Other interest expense	(6,668)	(7,079)	(13,395)	(14,642)
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	6,918	6,994	8,830	10,754
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	106,504	84,665	204,038	172,219
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	99,189	77,340	184,085	153,936
Income taxes	(35,164)	(27,093)	(63,571)	(53,926)
Income from continuing operations	64,025	50,247	120,514	100,010
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,983)	(1,155)	(808)	(4,100)
Net income (loss)	62,042	49,092	119,706	95,910
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	2,981	(10,896)	(34,138)	(195)
Comprehensive Income	65,023	38,196	85,568	95,715
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to the non-controlling interests			534
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	65,023	38,196	85,034	95,715
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	2,285,609	2,001,589	4,319,855	3,824,510
Cost of sales	1,913,900	1,681,433	3,612,699	3,209,681
Gross profit	371,709	320,156	707,156	614,829
Selling, general and administrative expenses	281,360	247,494	540,027	484,583
Depreciation	8,843	7,394	17,205	14,438
Operating Income (Loss)	81,506	65,268	149,924	115,808
Floor plan interest expense	(5,219)	(4,175)	(10,093)	(7,947)
Other interest expense	(1,196)	(603)	(2,263)	(1,513)
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates		(40)		(40)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	75,091	60,450	137,568	106,308
Income taxes	(29,130)	(23,227)	(53,709)	(43,806)
Income from continuing operations	45,961	37,223	83,859	62,502
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(540)	(399)	(33)	(2,049)
Net income (loss)	45,421	36,824	83,826	60,453
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	1,122	(15)	(32)	(249)
Comprehensive Income	46,543	36,809	83,794	60,204
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	46,543	36,809	83,794	60,204
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	1,413,566	1,313,462	2,783,919	2,654,254
Cost of sales	1,216,252	1,128,647	2,387,845	2,269,148
Gross profit	197,314	184,815	396,074	385,106
Selling, general and administrative expenses	154,276	148,403	304,890	294,701
Depreciation	5,731	5,679	11,522	11,264
Operating Income (Loss)	37,307	30,733	79,662	79,141
Floor plan interest expense	(3,222)	(3,416)	(6,329)	(6,969)
Other interest expense	(4,202)	(3,796)	(8,135)	(7,417)
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	1,983	1,214	2,419	1,864
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	31,866	24,735	67,617	66,619
Income taxes	(8,627)	(6,432)	(16,752)	(16,525)
Income from continuing operations	23,239	18,303	50,865	50,094
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,443)	(756)	(1,114)	(2,051)
Net income (loss)	21,796	17,547	49,751	48,043
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	1,554	(11,415)	(36,281)	(1,489)
Comprehensive Income	23,350	6,132	13,470	46,554
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to the non-controlling interests	453	520	1,342	708
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	$ 22,897	$ 5,612	$ 12,128	$ 45,846